Hello all -

So I finally began playing Fallout 1, and the clock is ticking on the water chip quest. I killed everything in vault 15 only to find out the chip isn't there and I have to look elsewhere. It's a little frustrating that the game hasn't given a single clue as to where else to look, though, and I'm worried that I'm going to end up failing that quest combing through every map square trying to find it. Did I miss some clue somewhere or am I OK if I just visit everyone in Junktown and that other town that got added to my map? I don't have the time these days to replay large sections of any game so it would be nice to know whether I should go ahead and take on unrelated quests or just cruise around until someone gives me a dialogue option relating to the chip. I'm enjoying the game but I think the designers should have left at least some clue in vault 15 as to where one should look next. Any advice would be appreciated, but no spoilers please.

Just stumble forward at that point.
It's supposed to be a seemingly hopeless situation, big world - small chip and so on.

Not blindly though, you should get at least some info from Junktown.
If not of the chip itself, maybe someone points out another town or place to look from.
(Oh, reread your post and someone already did.)

Thanks guys. It's reassuring to know this is how it's supposed to be.